BERHAMPUR: Emu, the flightless bird from Australia, is gradually changing the trend of poultry farming in south Odisha. Considered to be the second largest bird in the world after ostrich, though these amazing birds weigh 50 kg and run at 40 miles per hour, emus are far from being intimidating. This is the prime reason why emus are proving to be a boon to farmers in the State.

BERHAMPUR: Even as much has been said about the provision of facilities for the promotion of sports and games, the reality is different in the city. The ground adjacent to KC High School in Gosaninuagaon here was the only playground for thousands of students in the vicinity. However, now the ground remained unused since long, depriving the students of the benefit of outdoor games. In 2004 Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for a mini stadium. Nearly eight years after, no steps were taken for its construction.

BERHAMPUR: Thousands of people are thronging the Gokhorkuda beach here to watch Olive Ridley hatchlings emerging from the eggs. Hatching started on Monday and more than three lakh hatchlings have swam into the sea, forest officials claimed. “The process would continue for some more days as 3 lakh more hatchlings are expected,” an official said. Forest staff and locals are maintaining a vigil to ensure that the hatchlings enter the sea safely.

BERHAMPUR: The erosive waves of the Bay of Bengal have again started to threaten villages on the coastline of Ganjam district. During past two days, the Podempeta village in Chhatrapur block of the district witnessed the fury of sea waves. The village is inhabited mostly by marine fishermen. On Sunday night, two thatched houses were swept away in the high tides. The houses belonged to PL Appeyya and B Matheyya.

The erosive action of tidal waves has also washed away hundreds of Olive Ridley eggs in the last two days.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government will initiate a project to solve water problem in Berhampur town with an investment of Rs 250 crore. A detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared for this. Under the project 125 million litres water per day will be lifted for the town from the Janivili anicut. Besides, Rs 59 crore will be invested to strengthen the existing water supply infrastructure in the town for ensuring round-the-clock supply.

New Delhi:NTPC on Tuesday signed a long-term agreement to supply 250 mw to Bangladesh Power Development Board, making it the first Indian generation utility to ink a deal for exporting electricity to aneighbouring country. NTPC entered into the deal through its wholly-owned trading arm NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd. The deal, signed in New Delhi, marks a milestone in bilateral ties and takes a step further to India’s idea of creating a SAARC energy grid.

BERHAMPUR: Death of poultry in Raikia block has spread bird flu panic among the residents. The deaths were reported from two SHGs. Sources said a SHG in Gamandi village had procured 600 chicks with financial assistance from a bank on the advice of local veterinary office, on January 6. However, the members found 10 chicks dead the following day. And so far, 180 have perished. Another SHG at Barepanga village too saw death of 50 chicks.

Berhampur: With detection of H5N1 avian influenza at two places of Odisha, a Central team on Monday visited the Chilika lake area to study symptoms of bird flu on the migratory birds. The two-member surveillance team observed the behavior of migratory birds in the lake, particularly in the Nalabana, the bird sanctuary area, said a senior officer of the Chilika wildlife division adding that as many as 8.83 lakh migratory have assembled in the lagoon area.

BHUBANESWAR: The year has been as challenging as it could be on the health front with public health concerns coupled with a belligerent medical workforce keeping the Government and the Health Department on their toes for a substantial part of 2011. Dengue raised its ugly head in a disastrous manner for the first time in the State in August claiming over 30 lives and affecting more than 1,300 people across majority of the districts.

BERHAMPUR: Recurring natural calamities and lack of irrigation facility have hit cultivation in the district. Around 75 per cent of the population in Ganjam depends on agriculture for livelihood. A sizeable portion of farming is rain-fed. In the last one year, the district has faced crop loss due to both heavy rain and drought and lack of irrigation facilities has only added to the farmers’ woes. As a result, many of the farmers are giving up cultivation and looking for other sources of income.